Characterization of Fasciola samples from different host species and geographical localities in Spain by sequences of internal transcribed spacers of rDNA

Abstract

In the present study, 25 samples representing Fasciola (Platyhelminthes: Trematoda: Digenea) from nine host species and 19 geographical locations in Spain were characterized genetically by sequences of the first (ITS-1) and second (ITS-2) internal transcribed spacers (ITS) of nuclear ribosomal DNA (rDNA). The ITS rDNA was amplified from individual liver flukes by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and the amplicons were sequenced directly. The lengths of the ITS-1 and ITS-2 sequences were 422 and 362 bp, respectively, for all Spanish liver fluke samples sequenced. Comparison of the ITS sequences of the Spanish Fasciola samples examined in the present study with that of Fasciola hepatica, Fasciola gigantica and the "intermediate Fasciola" revealed that all Spanish Fasciola samples examined represent the single species of F. hepatica, with only slight sequence variation in the ITS-2 (1/362, 0.3%) among the sequenced samples, but the sequence variation was not related to particular host species and/or geographical origins of the samples. The Spanish F. hepatica examined differed from Fasciola from elsewhere by two nucleotides in the ITS-2, which provided genetic marker for the differentiation of Spanish F. hepatica from Fasciola from other geographical localities. These results have implications for studying the population genetic structure of the Spanish F. hepatica and for the diagnosis and control of the disease it causes.

Genetic characterisation of Fasciola samples from different host species and geographical localities revealed the existence of F. hepatica and F. gigantica in Niger

“…Previous studies have characterized Fasciola from different countries using genetic approaches (Itagaki and Tsutsumi 1998;Agatsuma et al 2000;Huang et al 2004;Itagaki et al 2005a, b;Alasaad et al 2007;Lin et al 2007;Vara-Del Río et al 2007); however, before the present study, there had been no any reports characterizing Fasciola from Niger using genetic approaches. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to characterize Fasciola samples from Niger from different host animals and geographical localities by sequences of the first and second internal transcribed spacers (ITS-1 and ITS-2) of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) because these sequences have been shown to provide specific markers for the delineation of F. hepatica, F. gigantica, and the "intermediate Fasciola" (Itagaki and Tsutsumi 1998;Agatsuma et al 2000;Huang et al 2004;Itagaki et al 2005a, b;Lin et al 2007).…”

“…The 5′ and 3′ ends of the Fasciola ITS-1, 5.8S, and ITS-2 sequences were determined by comparison with previously published Fasciola ITS-1, 5.8S, and ITS-2 sequences (Itagaki and Tsutsumi 1998;Agatsuma et al 2000;Huang et al 2004;Itagaki et al 2005a, b;Alasaad et al 2007;Lin et al 2007; also, see GenBank™ accession numbers AJ557567, AJ557569, AJ557570, AJ557571, AJ628430, AJ628431, AJ628043, and AM709612). The sequences were aligned and compared among themselves and with those of F. hepatica, F. gigantica and the "intermediate Fasciola".…”

Epidemiology of fasciolosis affecting Iberian ibex (Capra pyrenaica) in southern Spain

“…In the Iberian Peninsula, F. hepatica has been found parasitising European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus), hare (Lepus granatensis), donkey (Equus asinus), horse (Equus caballus), pig and wild boar (Sus scrofa), roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), fallow deer (Dama dama), cattle (Bos taurus), European mouflon and domestic sheep (Ovis aries), goat (Capra hircus), Iberian ibex (Capra pyenaica), chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra) and man (Cordero del Campillo et al 1994;Lavín et al 1995;Pérez et al 2006;Alasaad et al 2007).…”

Molecular Characterization of Fasciola Samples Using Sequences of Second Internal Transcribed Spacer-rDNA in Different Geographical Localities of Sistan and Balouchestan Province, Iran

“…Previous studies have characterized Fasciola from different countries and different regions of Iran using genetic approaches (15,(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25). However, before the present study, there have been no molecular investigations regarding the Fasciola species from Sistan and Balouchestan province.…”